Hustle Vs Muscle

Chapter 6: This Isn't Gonna Be Easy

Kent Williams inbounds the ball. Gutierrez receives the pass and dribbles up the court with it. I run with him, slapping at the ball. He goes for the layup. I place my hand on the ball, knocking it loose from his hands. I pass to Jack Allen who dribbles down the court. Gutierrez is guarding me. I move closer to the basket but he moves with me. I try to go around him, but I get put off balance and nearly twist my ankle in the process. I throw a head fake to the right and sprint to the left. I recieved the pass. Gutierrez is guarding me again, so I duck, pivot and go for the layup. Another two points for us. The score is four to zero. And it's only the first two minutes.

Gutierrez brings the ball up the court. He passes to Zahn Kaye. He shoots. The ball bounces on the rim. I jump, my hands meeting the ball while I'm in the air. When I come down, I instinctively pivot and pass out to Antonio Valencia, the nearest boy, who catches it and dribbles down the court, creating a fast break. He goes for the layup and the ball goes in. Gutierrez inbounds the ball. The pass is intercepted by Chase, who puts the ball up for an easy shot. By the time the remaining three minutes of the scrimmage are over, the score is eight to two.

Warrick's team plays against D'amato's team. D'amato's team dominates them the moment they step on to the court. At the end of the scrimmage, the final score is seven to zero. And now it's our turn to play.

Now it's time. This is it. I remember Luke telling me to embrace my shortness and my speed. Everyone else may be tall and I may be a short, skinny girl, but I am fast and I can use that against them. They have muscle and I have hustle.

Of course, D'amato will be doing jump ball. Cody Johnson volunteers for jump ball. I position myself by the basket, at the top of the key for a fast break. I can definitely make the layup, but most likely, our team will not win the jump ball. Coach Anthony tosses the ball into the air. D'amato smacks the ball to Aiden who catches it and brings it up the court. I guard D'amato, partly because I'm mad that he won the jump ball, partly because nobody else seems to want to guard him. I force him outside the key, raising my hands as high as I can because he's a foot taller than me. I can tell he's frustrated at how a girl a foot shorter than him has no problem guarding him.

Aiden tries to shoot a three-pointer. The ball bounces off the rim and D'amato and I jump for it. We both grab the ball at the same time. My last thought before I stop thinking in complete sentences is I'm screwed. D'amato tries to yank the ball from my grip. He swings his elbow at my side. It hurts. Finally he wrests the ball from my grip. D'amato shoots. The ball bounces on the rim and topples in. "This is easier than I thought." he says. At that moment, my goal is to prove him wrong. I'm not going to make this easy for him.